Everything You Need to Do When Moving

Whether you’re heading 25 or 250 miles away, moving is a big deal. You’re not just picking up and moving your belongings from one home to another — you’re starting a new chapter in your life. In order to begin that new chapter, you need to do a lot of planning as well as get certain legal and health matters taken care of.

Since there can be a lot to keep track of, here is everything you need to do when moving in order to make your move a smooth one.

Create A Detailed Checklist

Go room by room in your house and write down a detailed list of everything you want to pack. Once something’s in a box, cross it off the list so you don't have to worry about it anymore, and number each box according to the room it's from.

For example, every box that contains items from your kitchen could be labeled “Box 1” so when you go to unpack things later, you don't have to play the game of “what box is this in?”

Look Into Professional Movers

While it may seem easy to pack up your home and move everything on your own, it's not as simple as it seems. Especially if you're bringing along large furniture or moving long distance, professional movers can make things worlds easier. They have the training and skills needed to best transport all of your belongings safely and effectively.

Set Up Your Utilities

The last thing you want to have happen is to move into your new home and be stuck without water or power. A month before you move, call up the local utility company that provides service for your new home and register your home with them so you will have power and water from the minute you move in.

Start Junking Things

No matter how far you're moving, one thing is always for sure: you don't need to bring something to your new home just because it's in your current one. There are plenty of items that can be junked (safely and properly) before you begin packing. A general rule of thumb to follow is that if you haven't used an item in 2 years, get rid of it. Such items could include:

Children’s Furniture

Old Electronics

Spare Couches

Clothing

Old Mattresses

If something is in good shape and you don’t want to throw it away, you could always look into donating it!

Gather All Important Documents

You probably don't think about your birth certificate or old medical records since you rarely need them. However, it's very important you make sure you have all your important documents in one spot for easy access and security. This can include birth certificates, marriage certificates, social security cards, insurance paperwork, medical bills, etc.

Transfer Your Cable

Give your cable company a heads-up that you'll be moving to a new home. Sometimes, if they serve that area, you can just transfer the location they'll provide you service at. Other times, you'll need to cancel your service and switch to a new company in the area.

In order to not be left without cable, internet, or phone services, give any new company at least a two to three-week heads up that you'll need them to set up service in your new home.

Notify Your Insurance Agencies

Often times, your coverage for health, auto, and home insurance will vary based on where you live. Especially if you're moving to a new state, notify your insurance agencies of your move. They may have to have you fill out new paperwork to continue or modify your coverage. You also may end up paying less if your coverage doesn't cost as much in your new area.

Find New Doctors

Should anything happen during your move — you dropped something on your foot or hit your head while moving furniture — you want to know that you have a doctor nearby who takes your insurance. Do you some research online and make a few calls so you have at least a general doctor on call in your new area.

This also applies to your pets. Especially if your pet is on medication or elderly, make sure you have the number of a good veterinarian near your new home.

Change Your Forwarding Address

You don’t want to miss out on any important mail, do you? Go online and change your forwarding address to your new address in order to ensure that you're getting all of your bills and other important mail sent to your new home. Bear in mind that it can take up to 10 business days for your mail to begin being forwarded, from the date that you set, so don't be surprised if you get a few things a bit delayed.

Make Time for Family and Friends

This is something very simple but also something that many people forget. The friends and family you have near your current home are going to miss you a lot, so before you leave, schedule a few nights to spend with the people in your life. Whether that means having dinner with some people a few nights a week or having a going-away party, make sure they know how much you'll miss them too.

Check ID & License Requirements

If you're moving to a new state, do some research to see when you need to register as a resident of that state, switch your license, and switch your car plates. Each state is different, but in order to avoid any legal issues, it's important to switch over your ID by the specified time.

Clean Your New Home

A lot of people are quick to just unpack and settle into their new home, but it's pretty important that, before you open a single box, you clean your new place. Whether it's a brand new construction or it's been around and lived in for decades, take a few hours to wipe down the cabinets, dust the furniture, vacuum the carpets, and clean every inch of your bathrooms. You'll be very glad knowing the place is up to your cleaning standards before you get settled.

Take a Night to Relax

A lot of people want to get unpacked as quickly as possible and start really living in their new home. While we completely understand that, trying to rush can cause you to get stressed out with how much there is to unpack. If you have a box of blankets and a couch, spend the night on there, and tackle the rest of your unpacking in the morning.

We are H.U.N.K.S.—Honest, Uniformed, Nice, Knowledgeable, Service. That means that you can always trust our team to be courteous, friendly, and respectful of your property. Our H.U.N.K.S. are thoroughly trained as well as licensed and insured and always go the extra mile to ensure your satisfaction.

To get your free, no-obligation quote, get started on our website today!